Benefits of Barefoot – Kids Getting Strong and Grounded!

For many it is obvious and instinctual that going barefoot is good for you. Yes! I agree! And children naturally know this!

I had forgotten how profoundly beneficial it was to go barefoot until – around 8 months ago – when my boys and I started learning Taekwondo together (Taekwondo is widely practised barefoot). I found that one of the most challenging issues for me was just that – moving around barefoot! I discovered my feet muscles were underdeveloped through wearing shoes 99% of the time. This had caused misalignment in my body, underdeveloped muscles, and consequential balance issues. Oh dear! Not to be misunderstood, I have always loved the idea of going barefoot and the freedom this brings! Due to certain living arrangements and sensory issues; however, I had somehow grown dependent on wearing shoes, and missed out on the benefits of barefoot playing! I knew I wanted to change this, and I wanted to ensure my kids had the chance to benefit from my experience. I decided to delve further into the studies surrounding the barefoot movement!

Barefoot Kids Are Grounded
and Strong!!

In a nutshell I discovered that the benefits of barefoot = kids getting strong and grounded! Let’s look further at why it is so beneficial for our kids to going shoe-less!

First of all I’m going to discuss my favourite reason for going barefoot: Kids being grounded (no, not THAT type of ‘grounded’! )!
‘Grounding’ is also known as Earthing!

Earthing – What is it?

Earthing – aka ‘Grounding’ – is just being barefoot on the earth! Sounds simple, and it is! Earthing is being barefoot on dirt, sand, or grass specifically, as opposed to surfaces like asphalt or carpet.

What Happens When You are Earthing?

I learnt that when you put your body directly in contact with the earth via bare feet, it creates balance within your internal bio electrical system. What happens is that your bare feet absorb negatively charged ions from the earth itself. The earth is negatively charged and has a far greater negative charge than your body. Among other things, these negative ions absorb free radicals in our body. These free radicals have been proven to cause inflammation and oxidative damage to our cells.

According to Ober, Sinatra (M.D.) and Zucker, in their ground breaking book ‘Earthing. The Most Important Health Discovery Ever?’, “…your
body becomes suffused with negative-charged free electrons abundantly present
on the surface of the Earth. Your body immediately equalizes to the same
electric energy level, or potential, as the Earth.”

Earthing seems to stabilize and promote normal functioning of all the body systems, restoring your body’s internal electrical functions through the uptake of negative ions. Research has demonstrated that earthing reverses an ‘electron deficiency’, which then reduces inflammation – the common underlying factor in all bodily disease.

Earthing allows you to return your body back to its natural electrical state. It is then able to self-regulate and self-heal. If our kids’ bodies can self-regulate in this way – and in such a natural and enjoyable way – it also becomes much easier for them to self-regulate emotionally and cognitively (See here for more information to help our kids to self-regulate).

As you can see, the ramifications of earthing for our health are substantial! A summary of 12 peer reviewed studies conducted by The Journal of Environment and Public Health, found that earthing :

Reduces inflammation

Prevents and stops damage to the cells

Decreases pain

Results in better Sleep

Increases energy levels

Calms the nervous system and decreases stress levels

Normalizes the levels of cortisol (stress hormone) in the body

Improves Mood

Thins the blood and improves circulation and blood pressure

Improves cardiovascular function

Improves healing time and muscle repair

Improves blood sugar regulation

Prevents loss of bone density.

Powerfully reduces electro magnetic fields (EMFs) on the body
The last point is of much interest and relief to me, and I’m sure, to many of you also! EMFs are unavoidable, and part of how our societal environment works. I intend to educate my kids on nature’s anti-dote to technological ‘devices’! I know that the more we experience the balancing effects of earthing for ourselves, the easier it will be to naturally self-regulate when it comes to time on ‘devices’ and being around areas of high EMFs, versus time outdoors.

We’ve discussed the benefits of being grounded through being barefoot. Now let’s talk about how going barefoot makes our kids physically strong!

Strong Feet – Strong Body

After much research I’ve formed the picture that health and strength actually start with the feet! It makes sense. The feet support, balance, hold, and transport your body. They convey electrical signals and information to the brain regarding the environment and how to move the muscles of the body. They also contain reflexology pressure points, corresponding to different parts of the body, enabling a further avenue for healing and restoration. Pretty impressive really!

Strengthening and stretching the ligaments, tendons, and muscles in the feet and legs.

Strengthening the core and back muscles

Improving balance, co-ordination, and body awareness (proprioception)

Stimulating the Reflexology pressure points

Daniel Lieberman, Evolutionary Biologist from Harvard, points out that normal wearing of shoes can cause you to ‘land on your heel’, an un natural and jarring action. Wearing shoes for too long throughout the childhood years can cause muscles to weaken, and tendons and ligaments to shorten. This impairs balance, and consequently increases the risk of foot, ankle, and leg injuries.

Likewise, Bio-Mechanist, Katy Bowman, suggests that ‘footwear can interfere with the development of foot strength, ankle stability, general nerve health, and gait patterns’…..’The shoes alter human movement’, she says.

Bowman reflects that shoes have purpose, but that the trade-off for protection can be reduced whole-body health if we don’t pick the right shoes for our body and skill-level.

Final Thoughts

Going barefoot has undeniable health benefits. Earthing while barefoot is an amazing therapy, yielding substantial health benefits for us and our kids! And it’s free!! Going barefoot in general, whether earthing outside, or in an indoor environment, is a wonderful strengthening gift to our feet and to our entire body.

The idea is that our feet and body thrive best when allowed to be shoe-less! However, it is clear that for a substantial amount of the time in this modern day environment, our kids need to wear shoes for protection, warmth (in some areas of the world), and comfort.

Ideally shoes should protect the foot and allow it to function without preventing or inhibiting movement. My next article will look at ideas for shoes that allow such function, and best support healthy foot development.

I hope you have enjoyed this subject! I certainly enjoyed delving into the world of barefoot research and sharing this with you!

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I love going barefoot – used to always be barefoot as a kid and I do notice a different, especially how the muscles respond in the feet! I think it’s really important that kids get this too, plus overall exposure to the outdoors, nature and dirt. Very informative article, and an enjoyable read! might go barefoot today!

Thank you, Zac!! It really is a sensation, isn’t it?? I love the ‘buzz’ you get, too – that lasts long after you come back inside…. Thank you for your great insights. I agree, overall exposure to the outdoors and nature, including the dirt, is highly beneficial.
Yeah, me too!! Heading outside soon with no shoes!!!
Warm wishes
Lyndal Jane

Cos you are more tuned in to what your body needs, being relaxed and away from work stresses?? It’s part and parcel of ‘freedom’, really – your feet provide the support for your body to stand. Set them free!!! It’s true, though, vacation, allows the space to free yourself from your worries a little. This includes our shoes!
Thanks for stopping by, Daniel!!
Warm wishes

Great post! Most children seem to have a preference for going barefoot, and now I know why! As adults we have mostly forgotten the joy of walking barefoot, but I must say, nothing feels better than walking along a sandy beach feeling the sand squish underneath your toes 🙂

Yes, Coreena!! It is such a simple joy, and one that gets too easily squashed – along with others – due to ‘adult’ priorities! Thank you for your insight and comment! There is really no better reason to go barefoot than to experience more joy!!!! I appreciate so much that you visited and thought to leave a message!!
Warm wishes
Lyndal Jane